The Strategist of the Magic Emperor Shatters the Second Destruction - Volume 1 Chapter 7

“Sister, I’m off!”

“Make sure you really take care. Don’t overdo it, okay?”

“I know.”

“I’m with Balam, so I won’t let him overdo anything.”

“Please take care of him, Anim-chan.”

A month has passed since I first picked up a sword.

I’ve gotten used to swinging and practicing forms, and swinging a wooden sword hardly tires my body anymore.

Around my waist, I have the wooden sword, and the stone sword, a promise from my teacher.

I only plan to use the wooden sword, but I think of the stone sword as a charm to increase self-discipline by adding weight.

And today, I finally test my sword against monsters.

Monsters.

Monsters, simply put, are distorted masses of magic power.

The reason monsters are born is due to “discarded magic power,” which humans emit as long as they live.

When the body tries to convert old magic power accumulated within into new magic power by taking in external magic power, the old magic power is released outward as if being replaced.

This discarded power accumulates and reacts with the magic in the air, resulting in monster generation.

Their forms vary, from animals, insects, even humanoids, to entirely different grotesque shapes.

The longer they live, the more intelligence they gain, becoming a formidable foe to humanity.

Monsters, an endless presence as long as humans exist in this world, are hunted by adventurers and knights.

“But, it’s not necessary for Anim to come along…”

Just yesterday, when I told Anim I was going monster hunting, she insisted on coming with me.

“My dad and mom said my magic is suited for defeating monsters, so it’s a good opportunity to practice. And I feel more secure with Balam!”

While it’s not uncommon for children who have finished their “Oracle Talent Revelation” to hunt monsters, it still makes me a bit worried.

However, there’s not the slightest hint of anxiety on Anim’s face.

“Besides, you’ll protect me if anything happens, right?”

That’s the point.

Well, I suppose I’m working hard just to be able to nod here, huh.

“Of course. I’ll definitely protect you.”

“…Heheh. I knew it.”

“Oh my~”

Inside a forest close to Dazril Royal Capital.

“Balam!”

“Yeah!”

As Anim accumulates magic power in her hand and stops, I prepare to confront what jumps out in front of us.

“Guaaaah!”

A G-rank monster, the Garewolf.

With grey fur, claws sharpened for killing, and sharp fangs.

For a mere child encountering one, fleeing is the only option, but for those with specific Talents or Abilities, it poses no special challenge as the lowest-ranked monster.

Monsters of G-rank are no different from ferocious beasts.

They have basically no thought, attacking humans on instinct… or so I’ve read in books.

“Huuu―――”

I breathe deeply as I run and draw my sword.

Though it may not be hidden, this is my first monster battle in my life. Not the second time, but the first. Even in my first life, I had never fought monsters.

“Conversion Magic” isn’t suited for offense, and lacking knowledge in martial arts made me distant from such confrontations.

“Grrr!”

“!”

I leap sideways in response to the easily predictable preliminary movement filled with openings.

As expected, the swung down claws pass the spot I was just in and hit the ground.

The wooden sword isn’t sturdy enough to block, so I dodge and then step in!

“Strike!”

“Gyan――!”

I swing downward with all my might at the exposed torso.

Thanks to the large opening, the blow delivered from the perfect posture is powerful, thanks to the supplement from the Ability.

The Garewolf’s jaw slammed into the ground from the overhead impact.

Then, I thrust the wooden sword towards its neck with all my might from above.

Pushing the non-bladed wooden sword with brute force, after the sensation of crushing the magic-infused bones known as “Demon Bone”, The Garewolf fell silent.

Immediately afterward, the bushes next to me rustle.

“Guaaaaaah!”

“Rurururururuuu!”

Another Garewolf jumps out.

It aimed at the opening after I defeated its prey but…

“―――Balam, it’s okay!”

“Roger!”

I quickly retreat.

“Flame Magic, Sword!”

The Garewolf leaping at me is repelled by the incoming sword-shaped flame and burns up entirely.

“…Wow.”

I can’t help but be amazed.

Anim managed perfect magic control and shape fixation in just a month; there’s no other word for it but amazing.

“Balam!… Are you okay?”

“Yeah, thanks to you, Anim. Thank you.”

“No, I wasn’t scared because Balam rushed in first.”

We share a quiet laugh.

The Garewolf I defeated and the one Anim burned crumble into particle-like dust and disappear.

When monsters disappear, they melt into the natural magic energy.

What remains is a single murky orb.

“A Magic Orb, it’s my first time seeing one!”

Anim picks it up excitedly.

The monster’s heart, a Magic Orb.

A small orb that fits in a child’s palm.

Currently swirling inside the Magic Orb is the discarded magic power of humans.

The “Magic Jewel” that Anim handed me at the end of my first life is made based on this.

Purifying the discarded magic power inside and filling the emptied Magic Orb with magic power makes it a treasure called “Magic Jewel” and is highly valued.

G-rank Garewolf’s Magic Orb isn’t worth much, but higher-ranked monsters leave larger Magic Orbs which are traded at high prices because they can store more magic power.

Considering its size, what kind of monster was the basis for the Magic Orb that Anim handed me?

I ponder this as I watch Anim innocently gaze at the Magic Orb.

Noticing my gaze, Anim coughs shyly and glares at me with accusing eyes.

“…What? It’s my first time seeing it, so can’t I be a bit excited?”

“Ah, no, that’s not what I meant. It was just kind of heartwarming.”

“Ah! Treating me like a child just because we’re the same age!?”

“No, no, you’re just cute.”

“――Be, cause…! You, really…! Haa, never mind. Not like… I hate it or anything.”

While laughing at the sulky Anim, I pick up the Magic Orb from the Garewolf I had defeated.

“Let’s call it a day for today’s trial run. If we get carried away, we might get injured… Anim will.”

“Ah, making fun of me again… But I agree. Shall we head back?”

“Yeah. For now, the Magic Orb won’t mean much if we keep it, so let’s sell it at the Adventurers’ Guild.”

“Sounds good. I wonder how much the Magic Orb will sell for?”

“Depends on the rank, but I think G-rank goes for about three copper coins?”

Hearing that, Anim’s eyes sparkle as she jumps up in joy.

“Three copper coins!? Then let’s buy those meat-stuffed breads on the way back! It’s just three copper coins after all!”

“Let’s do that.”

Walking through the forest, I feel warm in my heart at Anim’s unchanged gluttonous aspect from my first life.

“We’ll split it, right? Though I won’t give you more than that!”

“Eh? Split?”

“The bread, silly! Were you thinking of eating more?”

“No, not that… Why don’t we just buy one each? We have two Magic Orb, after all…”

“Eh?”

“Hmm?”

At my seemingly obvious words, Anim raises a question mark above her head, and I tilt my head too, puzzled.

“Balam, are you selling your Magic Orb?”

“Well, yeah, it’s meaningless to keep it, right?”

To my response, Anim shows a face of genuine surprise.

“So that’s it. I thought for sure… you’d turn that Magic Orb into a sword with your ‘Conversion Magic’.”

“…Huh?”

Turn a Magic Orb into a sword?

It’s essentially the monster’s body, isn’t it?

That kind of thing…

“There’s no reason it can’t be done… maybe.”

Wait, it’s too early to decide it can’t be done.

What’s needed is my imagination. I need to maintain the possibility within me.

“Sorry, Anim. Give me a moment to think.”

“Yeah, it’s like usual. It’s okay.”

First, this Magic Orb is too small. Even if turned into a sword, it would only make a miniature toy sword.

Wait, this Magic Orb is essentially the monster’s heart.

I’ve read that a monster’s body is made from the discarded magic power stored within this Magic Orb.

So, the discarded magic power within this Magic Orb is capable of creating a Garewolf of that size.

And my “Conversion Magic” has proven to work on more than just substances, as my presence here is the best evidence.

I should imagine converting the discarded magic power in the Magic Orb instead of the Magic Orb itself.

“It’s possible.”

I assert firmly.

Above all, Anim thought of it.

Anim, who will become the “Magic Emperor.”

To say it can’t be done…

“I can’t call myself a strategist if I say that.”

Focusing, I concentrate on the Magic Orb in my palm.

I convert the discarded magic power, into a “sword.”

But a sword the size of a Garewolf is unmanageable.

Thankfully, magic power doesn’t have mass. There are monsters smaller than Garewolves with more magic power.

What’s needed is control over magic power.

Shape the magic power into an ideal size.

Embed the excess magic power into the blade and fix it.

Finally, my deep dive into magic from my first life pays off.

“Conversion Magic!”

The moment I chanted, the Magic Orb shattered.

The densely packed discarded, black magic power violently swirls around me before converging.

“Balam!”

“…It’s okay, it’s okay.”

Ensuring I’m not distracted, I focus.

Telling Anim it’s okay, and reassuring myself.

After a moment of black light, what rested in my hand was.

“Seriously, it worked.”

A dark grey blade reminiscent of Garewolf’s fur.

A crudely formed but easy-to-grip handle.

The information flowing into my brain through the sword was unlike anything I’d seen.

●　　　●　　　●　　　●

『Agito of the Gray Wolf』

Required Use Condition: [Swordsmanship] G or above.

Created from the Magic Orb of a Garewolf.

A hunting sword with a light blade focused on agility rather than power.

Active Skill: Small supplement to the user’s physical capabilities.

●　　　●　　　●　　　●

Active Skill…?

It activates an effect when using this sword… a supplement to physical capabilities, that sounds quite amazing, doesn’t it?

“Balam! It worked!”

“Y-yeah, it did…”

“Why are you looking so surprised?”

Gripping the sword, I feel drained.

It required a lot of magic power, but more than that…

Anim, who believes in my potential without doubting it, fills me with inexpressible joy.

It was the same in my first life.

I remember Anim, who handed me the “Magic Jewel” in that desperate situation.

Maybe Anim at that time…

“Really, Balam is amazing!”

Believed in me like this.

T/N: Anim is so precious!